Nicole L. Achee Research Professor

Research Interests:

Nicole L. Achee, PhD, is a Medical Entomologist (Research Professor) within the Department of Biological Sciences and holds a joint Associate Professor appointment in the Eck Institute for Global Health at the University of Notre Dame. She has a combined 20 years of experience in vector behavior research related to the epidemiology and control of arthropod-borne diseases, including evaluation of vector ecology, habitat management and adult control strategies, disease risk modeling using GIS and remote sensing technologies, and evaluation of chemical actions against mosquito vectors under both laboratory and field conditions. She has worked in the international settings of Belize, Indonesia, Mexico, Nepal, Peru, South Korea, Suriname, Tanzania and Thailand. Achee was the principal investigator of a research program funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation focused on the development of spatial repellents for use in combination push-pull systems to reduce human-vector contact for dengue prevention. She is a Principal Investigator for two-large scale clinical trials in Indonesia and Peru conducted to generate evidence of the protective efficacy of spatial repellents for prevention of malaria and dengue human infections for use towards full World Health Organization public health policy recommendations. Achee is currently the Lead Principal investigator for the Remote Emerging Infectious Disease - NETwork (REDI-NET) funded by the Congressionally Directed Military Research Program (CDMRP) and serves as the Scientific Director for a Unitaid-funded program implementing three clinical trials in Mali, Kenya and Sri Lanka to further inform spatial repellent global health policies.

Achee has served as a Working Group member for the WHO Pesticide Evaluation Scheme (WHOPES), a Board Member and the Past-Chair of the American Committee of Medical Entomology (ACME) of the American Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH), is currently member of the WHO Global Collaboration for the Development of Pesticides for Public Health partnership (GCDPP), a Vector Control Working Group representative of Roll Back Malaria and served as the lead scientist for the WHO Guidelines for Efficacy Testing of Spatial Repellents. Her latest efforts have been serving as partner in the Worldwide Insecticide Resistance Network (WIN) and a Committee member for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine study: Gene Drives on the Horizon: Advancing Science, Navigating Uncertainty, and Aligning Research with Public Values. Achee co-Directs the Belize Vector and Ecology Center (BVEC) in Belize to serve as a local platform of excellence for research, training and education in public health.

Biography:

• Research Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
• Research Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
• Associate Professor, Eck Institute for Global Health at the University of Notre Dame
• Research Assistant Professor, Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
• Assistant Professor, Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
• Post-doctoral Researcher, Belize, Central America
• Ph.D. Medical Entomology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) Bethesda, MD 1999-2004
• M.Sc. Zoology, Texas A&M University (TAMU) College Station, TX 1992-1995
• B.S. Biology, St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO 1988-1992

Recent Papers:

• Alternative strategies for mosquito-borne arbovirus control. Achee NL, Grieco JP, Vatandoost H, Seixas G, Pinto J, Ching-Ng L, Martins AJ, Juntarajumnong W, Corbel V, Gouagna C, David JP, Logan JG, Orsborne J, Marois E, Devine GJ, Vontas J. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2019 Jan 3;13(1):e0006822. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0006822. eCollection 2019 Jan PMID: 30605475 Free PMC article. Review.
• Quantifying the Epidemiological Impact of Vector Control on Dengue. Reiner RC Jr, Achee N, Barrera R, Burkot TR, Chadee DD, Devine GJ, Endy T, Gubler D, Hombach J, Kleinschmidt I, Lenhart A, Lindsay SW, Longini I, Mondy M, Morrison AC, Perkins TA, Vazquez-Prokopec G, Reiter P, Ritchie SA, Smith DL, Strickman D, Scott TW. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2016 May 26;10(5):e0004588. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004588. eCollection 2016 May. PMID: 27227829 Free PMC article. Review. 
• Tools and Strategies for Malaria Control and Elimination: What Do We Need to Achieve a Grand Convergence in Malaria? Hemingway J, Shretta R, Wells TN, Bell D, Djimdé AA, Achee N, Qi G. PLoS Biol. 2016 Mar 2;14(3):e1002380. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1002380. eCollection 2016 Mar. PMID: 26934361 Free PMC article. Review.
• Mosquito control practices and perceptions: An analysis of economic stakeholders during the Zika epidemic in Belize, Central America. Duman-Scheel M, Eggleson KK, Achee NL, Grieco JP, Hapairai LK. PLoS One. 2018 Jul 19;13(7):e0201075. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0201075. eCollection 2018. PMID: 30024951 Free PMC article.
• Effect of the Topical Repellent para-Menthane-3,8-diol on Blood Feeding Behavior and Fecundity of the Dengue Virus Vector Aedes aegypti. Lee J, Choi DB, Liu F, Grieco JP, Achee NL. Insects. 2018 Jun 4;9(2):60. doi: 10.3390/insects9020060. PMID: 29867036 Free PMC article.
• Spatial repellency and other effects of transfluthrin and linalool on Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Estrada JLT, Moscoso KEP, Salas IF, Achee NL, Grieco JP. J Vector Ecol. 2019 Jun;44(1):89-93. doi: 10.1111/jvec.12332. PMID: 31124222
• Influence of Location and Distance of Biogents Sentinel™ Traps From Human-Occupied Experimental Huts On Aedes aegypti Recapture and Entry Into Huts. Salazar FV, Chareonviriyaphap T, Grieco JP, Eisen L, Prabaripai A, Ojo TA, Gimutao KA, Polsomboon S, Bangs MJ, Achee NL. J Am Mosq Control Assoc. 2018 Sep;34(3):201-209. doi: 10.2987/17-6713.1. PMID: 31442172
• Model-based analysis of experimental data from interconnected, row-configured huts elucidates multifaceted effects of a volatile chemical on Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Ten Bosch QA, Castro-Llanos F, Manda H, Morrison AC, Grieco JP, Achee NL, Perkins TA. Parasit Vectors. 2018 Jun 26;11(1):365. doi: 10.1186/s13071-018-2919-0. PMID: 29941038 Free PMC article.
• Molecular Detection and Identification of Rickettsia Species in Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) Collected From Belize, Central America. Polsomboon S, Hoel DF, Murphy JR, Linton YM, Motoki M, Robbins RG, Bautista K, Bricen O I, Achee NL, Grieco JP, Ching WM, Chao CC. J Med Entomol. 2017 Nov 7;54(6):1718-1726. doi: 10.1093/jme/tjx141. PMID: 28981693
• Tracking Insecticide Resistance in Mosquito Vectors of Arboviruses: The Worldwide Insecticide resistance Network (WIN). Corbel V, Achee NL, Chandre F, Coulibaly MB, Dusfour I, Fonseca DM, Grieco J, Juntarajumnong W, Lenhart A, Martins AJ, Moyes C, Ng LC, Pinto J, Raghavendra K, Vatandoost H, Vontas J, Weetman D, Fouque F, Velayudhan R, David JP. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2016 Dec 1;10(12):e0005054. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005054. eCollection 2016 Dec. PMID: 27906961 Free PMC article. 
• Second WIN International Conference on "Integrated approaches and innovative tools for combating insecticide resistance in vectors of arboviruses", October 2018, Singapore. Corbel V, Durot C, Achee NL, Chandre F, Coulibaly MB, David JP, Devine GJ, Dusfour I, Fonseca DM, Griego J, Juntarajumnong W, Lenhart A, Kasai S, Martins AJ, Moyes C, Ng LC, Pinto J, Pompon JF, Muller P, Raghavendra K, Roiz D, Vatandoost H, Vontas J, Weetman D. Parasit Vectors. 2019 Jul 3;12(1):331. doi: 10.1186/s13071-019-3591-8. PMID: 31269996 Free PMC article.
• International workshop on insecticide resistance in vectors of arboviruses, December 2016, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Corbel V, Fonseca DM, Weetman D, Pinto J, Achee NL, Chandre F, Coulibaly MB, Dusfour I, Grieco J, Juntarajumnong W, Lenhart A, Martins AJ, Moyes C, Ng LC, Raghavendra K, Vatandoost H, Vontas J, Muller P, Kasai S, Fouque F, Velayudhan R, Durot C, David JP.  Parasit Vectors. 2017 Jun 2;10(1):278. doi: 10.1186/s13071-017-2224-3. PMID: 28577363 Free PMC article.
• Fipronil and ivermectin treatment of cattle reduced the survival and ovarian development of field-collected Anopheles albimanus in a pilot trial conducted in northern Belize. Dreyer SM, Leiva D, Magaña M, Pott M, Kay J, Cruz A, Achee NL, Grieco JP, Vaughan JA. Malar J. 2019 Aug 29;18(1):296. doi: 10.1186/s12936-019-2932-6. PMID: 31464619 Free PMC article.
• Effects of Preexposure to DEET on the Downstream Blood-Feeding Behaviors of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) Mosquitoes. Sugiharto VA, Grieco JP, Murphy JR, Olsen CH, Colacicco-Mayhugh MG, Stewart VA, Achee NL, Turell MJ. J Med Entomol. 2016 Sep 1;53(5):1100-1104. doi: 10.1093/jme/tjw066. PMID: 27288690
• BG-Sentinel™ Trap Efficacy As A Component of Proof-Of-Concept For Push-Pull Control Strategy For Dengue Vector Mosquitoes. Salazar FV, Chareonviriyaphap T, Grieco JP, Prabaripai A, Polsomboon S, Gimutao KA, Bangs MJ, Achee NL. J Am Mosq Control Assoc. 2017 Dec;33(4):293-300. doi: 10.2987/16-6552.1. PMID: 29369029
• Effect of Spatial Repellent Exposure on Dengue Vector Attraction to Oviposition Sites. Choi DB, Grieco JP, Apperson CS, Schal C, Ponnusamy L, Wesson DM, Achee NL. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2016 Jul 18;10(7):e0004850. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004850. eCollection 2016 Jul. PMID: 27428011 Free PMC article.
• The effects of plant essential oils on escape response and mortality rate of Aedes aegypti and Anopheles minimus. Sathantriphop S, Achee NL, Sanguanpong U, Chareonviriyaphap T. J Vector Ecol. 2015 Dec;40(2):318-26. doi: 10.1111/jvec.12170. PMID: 26611967
• Dengue Virus-1 Infection Did Not Alter the Behavioral Response of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) to DEET. Sugiharto VA, Murphy JR, Turell MJ, Olsen CH, Stewart VA, Colacicco-Mayhugh MG, Grieco JP, Achee NL. J Med Entomol. 2016 May;53(3):687-691. doi: 10.1093/jme/tjw030. Epub 2016 Mar 29. PMID: 27026163
• Community-level impacts of spatial repellents for control of diseases vectored by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Ten Bosch QA, Wagman JM, Castro-Llanos F, Achee NL, Grieco JP, Perkins TA. PLoS Comput Biol. 2020 Sep 25;16(9):e1008190. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1008190. Online ahead of print. PMID: 32976489
• Knowledge, attitudes and practices assessment of malaria interventions in rural Zambia. Jumbam DT, Stevenson JC, Matoba J, Grieco JP, Ahern LN, Hamainza B, Sikaala CH, Chanda-Kapata P, Cardol EI, Munachoonga P, Achee NL. BMC Public Health. 2020 Feb 12;20(1):216. doi: 10.1186/s12889-020-8235-6. PMID: 32050923 Free PMC article.
• Efficacy of a Spatial Repellent for Control of Malaria in Indonesia: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial. Syafruddin D, Asih PBS, Rozi IE, Permana DH, Nur Hidayati AP, Syahrani L, Zubaidah S, Sidik D, Bangs MJ, Bøgh C, Liu F, Eugenio EC, Hendrickson J, Burton T, Baird JK, Collins F, Grieco JP, Lobo NF, Achee NL. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2020 Jul;103(1):344-358. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.19-0554. Epub 2020 May 14. PMID: 32431275 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.
• A critical assessment of vector control for dengue prevention. Achee NL, Gould F, Perkins TA, Reiner RC Jr, Morrison AC, Ritchie SA, Gubler DJ, Teyssou R, Scott TW. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2015 May 7;9(5):e0003655. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003655. eCollection 2015 May. Review.
• The field evaluation of a push-pull system to control malaria vectors in northern Belize, Central America. Wagman JM, Grieco JP, Bautista K, Polanco J, Briceño I, King R, Achee NL. Malar J. 2015 Apr 29;14:184. doi: 10.1186/s12936-015-0692-5.
• Considerations for the use of human participants in vector biology research: a tool for investigators and regulators. Achee NL, Youngblood L, Bangs MJ, Lavery JV, James S. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2015 Feb;15(2):89-102. doi: 10.1089/vbz.2014.1628.
• Impact of a spatial repellent on malaria incidence in two villages in Sumba, Indonesia. Syafruddin D, Bangs MJ, Sidik D, Elyazar I, Asih PB, Chan K, Nurleila S, Nixon C, Hendarto J, Wahid I, Ishak H, Bøgh C, Grieco JP, Achee NL, Baird JK.
• Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2014 Dec;91(6):1079-87. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.13-0735. Epub 2014 Oct 13.
• A comparison of two commercial mosquito traps for the capture of malaria vectors in northern belize, central america. Wagman J, Grieco JP, Bautista K, Polanco J, Briceño I, King R, Achee NL. J Am Mosq Control Assoc. 2014 Sep;30(3):175-83. doi: 10.2987/14-6411R.1.
• First record and demonstration of a southward expansion of Aedes albopictus into Orange Walk Town, Belize, Central America. Wagman J, Grieco JP, King R, Briceño I, Bautista K, Polanco J, Pecor J, Achee NL. J Am Mosq Control Assoc. 2013 Dec;29(4):380-2.
• Spatial repellents: from discovery and development to evidence-based validation. Achee NL, Bangs MJ, Farlow R, Killeen GF, Lindsay S, Logan JG, Moore SJ, Rowland M, Sweeney K, Torr SJ, Zwiebel LJ, Grieco JP. Malar J. 2012 May 14;11:164. Review.
• Effects of irritant chemicals on Aedes aegypti resting behavior: is there a simple shift to untreated "safe sites"? Manda H, Arce LM, Foggie T, Shah P, Grieco JP, Achee NL. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2011 Jul;5(7):e1243. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001243. Epub 2011 Jul 26.
• Initial assessment of the acceptability of a Push-Pull Aedes aegypti control strategy in Iquitos, Peru and Kanchanaburi, Thailand. Paz-Soldan VA, Plasai V, Morrison AC, Rios-Lopez EJ, Guedez-Gonzales S, Grieco JP, Mundal K, Chareonviriyaphap T, Achee NL. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2011 Feb;84(2):208-17. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.2011.09-0615.
• Evaluation of efficacy and duration of the stick camouflage face paint with 30% deet against mosquitoes in Belize. Lawrence KL, Benante JP, Close NC, Achee NL. US Army Med Dep J. 2009 Jul-Sep:84-90.
• Characterization of spatial repellent, contact irritant, and toxicant chemical actions of standard vector control compounds. Achee NL, Sardelis MR, Dusfour I, Chauhan KR, Grieco JP. J Am Mosq Control Assoc. 2009 Jun;25(2):156-67.
• A mark release-recapture study to define the flight behaviors of Anopheles vestitipennis and Anopheles albimanus in Belize, Central America. Achee NL, Grieco JP, Andre RG, Rejmankova E, Roberts DR. J Am Mosq Control Assoc. 2007 Sep;23(3):276-82.
• Experimental evaluation of overhanging bamboo in Anopheles darlingi larval habitat selection in Belize, Central America. Achee NL, Grieco JP, Andre RG, Roberts DR, Rejmankova E. J Vector Ecol. 2006 Jun;31(1):145-51.
• Use of remote sensing and geographic information systems to predict locations of Anopheles darlingi-positive breeding sites within the Sibun River in Belize, Central America. Achee NL, Grieco JP, Masuoka P, Andre RG, Roberts DR, Thomas J, Briceno I, King R, Rejmankova E. J Med Entomol. 2006 Mar;43(2):382-92.
• A mark-release-recapture study using a novel portable hut design to define the flight behavior of Anopheles darlingi in Belize, Central America. Achee NL, Grieco JP, Andre RG, Rejmankova E, Roberts DR. J Am Mosq Control Assoc. 2005 Dec;21(4):366-79.
• Comparison of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) resting behavior on two fabric types under consideration for insecticide treatment in a push-pull strategy. Tainchum K, Polsomboon S, Grieco JP, Suwonkerd W, Prabaripai A, Sungvornyothin S, Chareonviriyaphap T, Achee NL. J Med Entomol. 2013 Jan;50(1):59-68.